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Related Concept Videos

Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus01:19

Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus

The upper limb consists of the arm, forearm, wrist, and hand bones. The humerus is the single bone of the upper arm region. Proximally, it has a large, spherical, smooth head that articulates with the glenoid cavity of the scapula to form the glenohumeral or shoulder joint. The margin of the head is the anatomical neck, a residual epiphyseal plate. Laterally it extends to form bony projections called the greater tubercle and the lesser tubercle. Next to the tubercles is the surgical neck, a...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna01:15

Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna

The ulna and radius are parallel bones of the antebrachium or the forearm. The ulna lies medially and consists of a bony tip called the olecranon process at its proximal end. This hook-like projection articulates with the olecranon fossa of the humerus and forms the "hinged" ulnohumeral part of the elbow joint. This joint facilitates forearm extension and flexion while preventing its hyperextension. Similarly, the coronoid process, another bony projection on the proximal/anterior side of the...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius01:09

Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius

The radius is longer of the two bones that make up the human antebrachium or forearm. At the proximal end, the radius articulates with the capitulum of the humerus and the radial notch of the ulna to form the elbow joint. At the distal end, the radius articulates with the ulna via the ulnar notch, forming the distal radioulnar joint. Distally, the radius also attaches to the carpal wrist bones (scaphoid and lunate) to form the radiocarpal joint.
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a short...
Overview of the Axial Skeleton01:09

Overview of the Axial Skeleton

The skeleton is subdivided into two major divisions—the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton forms the vertical, central axis of the body. It includes all of the bones of the head, neck, chest, and back. It protects the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs. It also serves as the attachment site for muscles that move the head, neck, and back and for muscles that act across the shoulder and hip joints to move their corresponding limbs.
The axial skeleton of the adult...
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula01:10

Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula

The tibia is the main weight-bearing bone of the lower leg. It is larger than the fibula with which it is paired. The tibia is also the second longest bone in the body and is located right below the skin. The proximal end of the tibia forms the medial and the lateral condyle, which articulates with the condyles of the femur to form the knee joint. Between the articulating surfaces is the irregular elevated area known as the intercondylar eminence that serves as the inferior attachment point for...

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Vascularized Composite Upper Limb Allograft Harvesting for Proximal Arm Allotransplantation
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The upper limb of Australopithecus sediba.

Steven E Churchill1, Trenton W Holliday, Kristian J Carlson

  • 1Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. churchy@duke.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 13, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Fossil evidence from Australopithecus sediba reveals that early human upper limb evolution retained climbing abilities. This suggests a later shift towards the manipulative forelimb function seen in Homo erectus.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Human Evolution
  • Primate Anatomy

Background:

  • The human upper limb evolved from a dual role in locomotion and prehension to primarily manipulation.
  • Understanding this transition requires examining transitional hominin fossils.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the upper limb (excluding hand and wrist) anatomy of Australopithecus sediba.
  • To infer the functional capabilities and evolutionary stage of Australopithecus sediba's forelimbs.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of well-preserved forelimb fossil remains from 1.98-million-year-old Australopithecus sediba.
  • Comparative anatomical assessment with extant apes and other hominin species.

Main Results:

  • Australopithecus sediba's upper limbs exhibit predominantly primitive features, unlike other postcranial elements.
  • These primitive features indicate significant retention of climbing and suspensory abilities.
  • A shift to forelimb use for prehension and manipulation appears to be a later evolutionary development.

Conclusions:

  • Australopithecus sediba's upper limb anatomy suggests it retained ancestral climbing adaptations.
  • The specialized manipulative function of the human forelimb likely emerged later in the Homo lineage, possibly with Homo erectus.